I helped found a festival here in West Michigan called the Buttermilk Jamboree. It is irun by a non-profit at a place called the Circle Pines Center. We pay every single performer that participates in the three day festival. To be sure, the first two years the performers played for less than their normal festival fee. We would not dream of asking professional musicians, people who make their living playing the music they love, to play for nothing.

I have donated sets many times, but I never allow anyone to take advantage of me. This is my profession. I once had a pub owner ask me to play for exposure. You can guess my answer. He then countered that I could have the door. I responded that if he wanted me to play, we would negotiate a rate, or I wouldn't be playing his pub. His response was laughable, "so, it's all about the money for you, eh?.". I then made him the offer that I would play for the door if he would cut his drink prices in half. His response? "I can't do that, I am running a business". That was what I was waiting for. I told him that so was I. I then produced the spreadsheet I keep . It details every string I have bought, every bit of maintenance such as fret jobs, electronics, cables, and so forth for my equipment, every mile I have driven to gigs and rehearsals, every hour I have spent in rehearsal and travel. It also shows my compensation year to date, and the free gigs I have done. I asked him to compare my net to his, and then rethink his stupid question. I guess the point of all this is that I don't have a problem with amateurs who sing at open mic's or at free festivals, or amateur and pro's (myself included) that choose to play a free gig. In fact, I have a standing offer with my Irish American folk band ( the Conklin Ceili Band) that we will do one free concert a year for any heritage club of any ethnic group for free to help them fund their club. But I have a real problem with musicians giving away their hard earned skills for exposure, or gas money. And I have a problem with musicians who undercut fair wages, and allow venues to rip them off. Hell, we have clubs here that charge musicians for the use of their sound systems, but won't let the musician bring their own. All the while they run the kitchen and the bar making money off the crowd the musician brings in. Open mic's and allowing folk clubs to meet for a sing around are fine. Taking advantage of hardworking musicians is not.

And Lizzie, pay no attention to those that seem to want to attack any question you raise. This is a valuable discussion, I understand the point you raise, and it's distinctions. In the main, I agree with you. I believe that Pete would too.

All the best,

Mick